Born in New York, Andy James began playing drums at the age of ten. He quickly became serious about the craft and admits that school work took a back-seat to drumming.
He picked up drumming styles from old Van Halen, KISS and Foghat records. "My biggest influences were Roger Earl of Foghat, and Peter Criss of KISS," recalls James. "I remember listening to Roger Earl on Foghat Live and saying, yep, that's what I want to do, no doubt."
An inexperienced adolescent in the music industry but with a passion for drumming guiding him, James quit school at age 16 and moved to Los Angeles. Within a year, he was touring worldwide, developing a sweet taste for road life that further strengthened his decision to pursue a professional music career. After the tour, James traveled to Canada to record and tour with the band Thrush. Every year since then, James has either been on the road or doing sessions.
James agrees that his reputation in the industry is that of a hard rock drummer. "This is fine with me because playing hard rock is what I enjoy the most. I can appreciate other music (in fact Rickie Lee Jones is my favorite artist of all time), but if I get offered a gig, and it's not my style, I'll pass."
Andy's recording and/or touring credits include:
Predator, Thrush,Bonnie Parker, Jeffrey Brecker, Baby Monster Recording,Electric Circus,Dallas Perkins,The Power Station,D.R.D.,Jeffrey Brecker,Lifeline,The Hit Factory,Notes On Call
Souls of Ten,Unique Recording,Savatage,Addiction 9,David Sweet,Kindersoul
Criteria Recording,Roxx Gang, The ZEROS, Federated Department stores,Paramount PicturesRetrovison,The PGA,Outback Steakhouse,Futureworld,Hooters,Islands Inc
JEEP USA,MTV Networks-Viacom,Delta Airlines,Circuit City, Mercedes Benz Motors,Sarcom Cable,Lititz Brothers,ITG,Saturn Motor Company,Cingular Wireless,The GAP,Dreamworks,Universal Studios-Florida,Nintendo America
Miller Genuine Draft,NBC-InfoNet,ISUZU,Greyhound Bus Lines,BNI Publishing West,Toyota-Domestic,Frito-Lay,Musik For Nations,Newmark and Lewis-JSG
Circuit City,Independent Talent International,Mazda Motor Corporation
Nancy Wilson,Digital Design Studios,Verign Carter,Survivor Show/Mucom Universal Television Productions,Survivor Show/Mark Burnett Productions
Survivor Show/Aspenfair Music,CNN Networks,Calypso Brothers Entertainment
Samsung USA,United Airlines,The Mothership Studios, Jim Altman, OnStage Studios, Studio 150-Amsterdam,and many more!!!
Andy is currently a full time studio drummer and clinician, and will be starting another AKG Microphones clinic tour this spring at East Coast Sam Ash locations, so check you local music store listings for more details!!
Andy James uses and endorses DW drums, pedals and hardware, SABIAN cymbals, REGAL TIP drumsticks, REMO drumheads, AKG microphones, WESTONE in-ear monitors, RHYTHM TECH Percussion, and MUELLER Athletic products.
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